opinion

People trick-or-treat on Halloween in Ottawa in 2019.

A curious aspect of public safety advice given to drivers at Halloween is that it’s precisely what they should be doing all year round. Don’t drive distracted. Be ready for pedestrians to appear suddenly. Don’t speed. And most importantly, if you drink don’t drive.

There’s an air of resignation about the annual campaigns, as if the authorities know that people routinely drive unsafely but perhaps can be convinced, this one time, to be responsible. It doesn’t work. A U.S. study found a 43-per-cent higher risk to pedestrians that day. The scary truth is that Halloween is the most dangerous day of the year for kids.

Yes, drivers should be urged to be cautious. The best safety messages will be aimed at them, rather than trying

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